Abstract Detail

The diversity and the structure of the vegetation of the 3 ha. forest of the northern region of the Bardaha mountain passes, Sirmour block of Rewa district in Central India was investigated during 2011 and 2012. These ghats are the most steepedmountain passes in the region and are highly exploited for timber, fuel wood and forest produces. The vegetation was classified into natural forest, disturbed forest, over-grazed forest and non-forest. The vegetation was sampled using systematic random design and gradients in vegetation were examined using strip-width methods. The size of ground sub-plots were 50m2 and sloping terrain sub-plot sizes were 60m2. To analyze the stand-structure, all the trees and shrubs were recorded and identified and basal diameter, standard diameter (dbh>30 cm.), ranges and number of individual sps. and Importance Value Index (IVI) were calculated. A total of 300 plant species were identified. Plant species richness in natural stands was more in compare to the other vegetations. The species richness and total vegetation cover decreases from hilly regions to the ground level, which is likely to be the result of highly induced anthropogenic activities like cutting and grazing and overexploitation of natural vegetation for other means. This research discloses that the primary vegetation is vanishing at an alarming rate. Although native woody species have a greater importance value index (IVI) in compare to the introduced species so there is a need of sustainable management before the entire natural wilderness gets destructed.